I am a stickler when it comes to time management, and regard such as a very precious commodity. If I feel I'm wasting time on repetitous things, I get perplexed. Ok, cranky. I especially find it irritating when other people take advantage of my time, as if I have nothing better to do. The truth is, I really don't, but others don't really have to know that.
Another thing that chafes me is arrogance. An attitude that exults superiority. What happens if you mix 'arrogance' and 'time-waster' together? An ostentatious work environment. No thanks, I'll pass.
It's funny to me how there are enormous amounts of articles written online and in print about what turns off hiring managers and recruiters during a job interview. Jobseekers are reminded constantly about the ruler to the hand if you dare say or do the wrong things during an interview. Hiring managers take full advantage of the ball being in their court, and with that, comes pompous attitudes in some cases. Where are articles on that, I wonder? Are jobseekers to believe that interviewees are masters of perfection and they should be viewed separately from the company as a whole? Are we to believe that their actions should not reflect the opinions of the company?
One of the major pet peeves from hiring managers during interviews is arrogance. I can agree with that, but here lies a shocker: it works both ways.
Below are ten warning signals that I take into account as far as potential employment with a company. Please note: these elements are based on ACTUAL events that took place during past interviews:
1. In the middle of the interview, hiring manager's cell phone rings. He says, "Oh, sorry. I have to take this. Excuse me for a moment..." and follows up with "Hi honey..."
I wish I was kidding about this, but I'm not. I was in a groove discussing my previous work history when all of a sudden his cell phone rings. In my world, I silence my phone during a meeting of ANY kind, not just job interviews. I am here because I am trying to cast an excellent impression of my work credentials, but that's hard to do when they're obviously more concerned with what they are having for dinner that night. Just come out and state you've lost interest don't want to hire me, and stop wasting both of our time.
2. The interviewee is dominating the conversation...by HIS choice, NOT yours.
I have been in at least two job interviews where this was the case. The only thing that comes to my mind is, "Shut up! Let me do some talking here!" Am I mean for thinking that? Probably. But please don't assume I am clueless about the company either. I do my homework. I go as far what their stock is trading at, if public. Anyway, a babbling interviewee forces me to interrupt them, by providing examples of my past projects as it relates to their discussion. But then, I have to worry about whether they think I'm rude for interrupting them. Interviews go both ways. I talk. You talk. I talk. You talk. It appears, in this instance, I'm not the only one that needs to sharpen their interviewing skills.
3. The interviewee is fumbling for answers when asked a question like, "How do you envision the company's long term success, and what measures are being taken to exceed expectations?"
I want to hear something other than, "our company is constantly coming up with contemporary strategies and brand ourselves using innovative methods..." Blah blah blah. That's great. I want to know are they the type that feeds off their customer/client base and build on that, or do they go with whatever upper management wants them to go for sake of building on price per share and profit margins? I want details. Since I plan on retiring with my next employer, I want to know the employer has what it takes to survive the good times as well as bad. I want details of your idealism, not some genericized answer.
4. You arrive promptly for the interview, only to wait another half hour waiting for the interviewee to end the phone call/meeting/return from lunch.
Some jobseekers may see this as a GOOD thing, as it allows them more time to conduct final interview preparations in their head. Not me. That is because, once again, it works both ways. If I was late for an interview, my chances of being considered have gone down to 0% in a matter of minutes. I expect the same courtesy. I don't care what the hell they were doing before our scheduled interview, there's no excuse for being late. That displays enormous arrogance on their part, and what they do represents the company. I am immediately turned off from the role well before I walk into their office.
5. My personal favorite: "Let me pull up your resume. Give me a second. It's somewhere in my inbox."
It's somewhere? SOMEWHERE? Oh great, you've got my most private information deeply lost in the black hole of cyberspace. I am captivated by the fact that you're obviously in need of someone who's good at electronic organization. At the same time, however, that's my PRIVATE information you're fucking with!
I always bring three to four additional hard copies of my resume. I realize I'm killing trees, but I know better than to rely entirely in an electronic organizational system. The fact is, there is a disturbing amount of folks that don't organize their e-mails very well (a folder? Pray tell, what's that?) They don't hold resumes high regard as far as priority, unless you're a recruiter, and even that's debatable. At any rate, I seize the opportunity to provide examples of my efficiency. I'd say, "There's no need to locate my resume in your inbox. I have a hard copy right here."
6. The Grill 'Em and Burn 'Em type interviews
"Let me get 20 other of my colleagues for this interview. We like interviewing this way because each of colleagues have different perspectives as far the role itself, and would like to ask questions accordingly..."
Nothing says, 'we just want to see if you can fit in with our little clique' more than this style of interviewing. They don't give a rat's ass how well I can do the job. Case in point: show me a workplace that DID NOT have some sort of clique. The higher up the title, the more a unique clique exists. These same people who conducted the grill interview will then go out to lunch at some yuppie restaurant and proudly pat themselves on the back on their fine interviewing achievements. It's all about them, not you. Major red flag.
7. The interviewee asking "What's your biggest weakness?"
I suspect I unknowingly grimace at this question, not because I don't have an answer, but because this question is has been asked over and over and OVER AGAIN. I'd rather you ask, "give me an example of turning a mundane task into one that boasts the exact opposite?" and I'm all, "a mundane task is as mundane as the person makes it to be. It's up to the individual to add some flair to what they would consider as 'mundane.' For example, answering the phones is considered mundane, but I make an effort to turn it into a brief but engaging conversation before they're connected with the proper person. In the age of automated menus, interpersonal engagement has sadly become a lost art."
Etc., etc. My point is, as much as you expect me to "stand out from the rest" I expect the same thing out of you. Don't just ask these questions because everyone else is asking them. I expect a little ingenuity on your part, as well.
8. Interviewees handing out company information that INCLUDES all company benefits ie medical insurance, vacation, etc.
As much as it irritates interviewees with questions relating to vacation time and medical insurance, again, this works both ways. Just because some jobseekers don't bother with such questions, that is not an open invitation for some hiring authorities to readily handout a folder containing company information and what discounts are available at various frivolous sporting goods stores for their employees. Granted, much of this information is posted on some company web sites, but I don't bother scrutinizing it. Why waste time thoroughly reviewing company benefits if I may not be hired for the role in the first place? I wonder too, about the hiring manager that vaunts such information. They might as well say, 'here's all the stuff you won't get to take advantage of in the event you're not hired for the role!' Arrogance is malevolence.
9. The Tour of the Office Workplace
I am not buying a house. I don't care what the employee lounge looks like. The office tour holds no relevance for me whatsoever. There is no point in showing me what your office looks like. No relevance. All narcissism.
10. When the interviewee asks, "What was the last book you read?"
I don't remember the title, but it was something of pornographic nature. I LOVE porn. I live, breathe and eat porn. I'm also aware that interviewees ask these questions to get a feel of how my mind works. The problem with this is, is that what I do in my spare time does not necessarily equate with how I roll in the workplace. I know better than to carry out my porn obsession in the workplace. And I know for certain that there are other job applicants that are quite capable of differentiating the two. I know how to get around your psycho analysis. By the way, I don't really have a porn obsession. :P
In conclusion, some may view this post as very grandoise on MY part. How dare I reveal some truth! But I'm not worried. Right now I have three genuine letters of recommendation (yes...all from previous employers) that specify how egostic I can be.
